68 Mr. G. Gore on the Solvent Power of Liquid Cyanogen. [Dec. 7, 



percha were previously made by softening the end of a rod of that sub- 

 stance in boiling water and then chilling it ; and loops of thin copper wire 

 were also prepared for the purpose of securing the plugs. 



Having placed in the bend of the tube the substance to be operated on, 

 a plug was wetted with chloroform and at once firmly inserted in the 

 month of the tube and secured by means of the wire. A wet rag was 

 wrapped round the limb B, and the portion of the limb C containing the 

 cyanide was inserted in a loosely fitting tube of copper foil within a tube of 

 wrought iron about two feet long, supported in a nearly horizontal posi- 

 tion, with the end D the lowest. 



A vessel having been previously arranged to drop cold water continually 

 upon the wet rag, a glass screen was placed by the side of the exposed 

 part of the glass tube, and heat was gradually applied, by means of a row 

 of Bunsen's burners, to the part of the iron tube containing the limb C. 

 In about four minutes liquid cyanogen began to form, and in about five 

 minutes longer about two inches in length of the bend was filled with 

 that liquid, and the heat was then discontinued. The temperature of the 

 iron tube was below that of visible redness ; if the heat applied was not 

 too great the glass tube retained its original form, and might afterwards 

 be easily removed from its casing and set aside for future examination. A 

 white fog, and signs of a heavy vapour in the bend of the tube, always 

 immediately preceded the formation of the liquid. In many instances 

 some of the cyanogen retained the liquid state for several days, and even 

 weeks, especially if the bend of the tube was kept cool by means of a wet 

 sponge. 



The cyanide employed in the experiments should be crushed to a coarse 

 powder, and highly heated a long time, with constant stirring, until it is 

 of a slightly brown colour ; otherwise, immediately previous to the appear- 

 ance of the liquid cyanogen, a small quantity of a brownish treacley liquid 

 distils over and affects the results. 



More than 130 substances, including solids and liquids, and a great 

 variety of simple and compound bodies, were subjected to the action of 

 the liquid ; the substances were, in nearly all cases, as free from moisture 

 as it was possible to obtain them. The following are the results ob- 

 tained : — 



Substances soluble in liquid Cyanogen at 60° Fahr. — Camphor dissolved 

 rapidly and copiously. Hydrate of chloral quickly and freely. Solid 

 C 2 Cl 6 was freely soluble. Iodine was moderately soluble, and formed a 

 deep red liquid. Picric acid moderately soluble ; the solution was yellow. 

 White phosphorus dissolved very slowly, and to but a small extent*. 

 Gum benzoin, also white cane-sugar, dissolved slowly and sparingly. Gum 

 assafoetida and gamboge dissolved slightly, and formed yellowish liquids. 

 Bisulphide of carbon, C 2 Cl 2 and C 2 Cl 4 , mixed perfectly with the liquid ; 

 CC1 4 mixed less perfectly. Water was only slightly absorbed. 

 * See also Gmelin's Handbook, vol. viii. p. 147, article " Cyanide of Phosphorus." 



